Fifth-grade students at Caln Elementary School will be spending a little time with members of what’s known as “The Greatest Generation.”

The school’s fifth-graders will be participating in the Coatesville Veterans Affairs Medical Center’s Adopt-a-Grandparent Program, a partnership with the Coatesville School District that’s run for more than 40 years.

Students in each fifth-grade class will travel to the VA once a week to spend 45 minutes with veterans once a month. They’ll play games, make crafts together, and spend time interviewing the veterans about their experiences.

“It will be an honor to meet some of these wonderful people and learn about some of the wars they fought in,” said fifth-grader Paul Robinson. “I know I am going to enjoy this experience.”

“This experience really gives our students a way to apply critical thinking skills and refine their leadership abilities,” said Caln Principal Rebecca Richardson.

“They have to learn how to communicate with people who are older than them, and they need to adjust their behavior to the setting. It’s a great learning experience. It’s also one that tugs at everyone’s heart. It really helps the students to develop empathy and compassion, and expands their understanding of the world.”

Matt Murray, a former Caln Elementary student and current Scott Middle School Student, was among those who enjoyed the program.

“We played checkers, Connect Four, or other board games with the veterans, and sometimes they would tell us about when they fought in a war,” he said. “We had snacks and juice together, and it was really nice to spend time with them and to be able to give back and thank them for their hard work defending our rights.”

Through this experience, opportunity, and partnership with the VA Medical Center of Coatesville, Caln students will be building relationships that will help to improve the quality of life for some veterans in the Coatesville area.

“Our students will walk away with an understanding of giving back and helping others and will leave with a new perspective about veterans and their experiences,” said Richardson. “We hope this will help them to understand that their actions and the actions of others truly do make a difference in our lives.”